Pattern and guide strip



May 25 1926 u s. H. CALKINS PATTERN AND GUIDE STRIP I Filed Sept. 8, I925 ATTORNEY iNVENTOR SEW/7R0 16 {3% mm;

Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE,

snwann HOMER CAIiKINS, or rrusnnve, NEW YORK, assrenonmq 'rnn rmrrm.

MARBLE COMPANY, or LON G ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

PATTERN AND GUIDE swam;

Application filed September a, 1925'. Serial No. 55,125.

This invention relates to means for forming patterns and sections, and "tor guiding and defining the thickness of the severalv layers used in making up flooring and other surfaces, finished in terrazzo or other ma: terial, and particularly to means for locking together the parts'ot adjacent Sections of a wall'or flooring.

Pattern and guide strips-have heretofore been provided with "openings for the material forming the screed coat or undcrbed of a flooring to pass into, was to lock adjacent sections of the underbed together, and at the same time lock the strip into the screed coat or underbed, and prevent vertical displacement of the strip. I

In such constructions wings have been formed of the cut away portions of the strip, of a length and area corresponding with that of the opeiiings andextending outward from the side of the strip and at a right angle thereto.

The angular connection of the wings with thebody of the strip prevents the strip from being bent at such portions, making it difiicult to use the strip when circular or scroll patterns are desired. I

One of the objects of the present invention therefore is to maintain the advantages of comparatively large openings in the strip so as to provide a substantial locking connection between two adjacent sections of a'wall or flooring, and at the same time make the strip length.

The wings cut out from'the body of the strip are placed 'upon the top ofvthe screed layer, and when so placed, the upper edge of the strip defines the hei ht or level of the upper surtace of the finis ing layer of the material. a 4 For such purpose, and for the purpose of supporting the strip while the finishing layer 7 is being applied, it has been the practice to make the area of the wings as great as the area of the openings that form the lock connections between two adjacent sections of the material, and a consi erable amount of material has been unnecessarily used, which being made of brass amounts to a considerable increase in the cost of making the strip.

uniformly fiexiblethroughout its This invention has for a further object, therefore, strip with comparatively large openings at a minimum cost.

-to provide a pattern and guide A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking entire sections of a wall or flooring together instead of lockthe 'underbed of adjacent openings and consequently one edge '01 thestrip could be used only as the upper edge and the opposite edge of the strip only as the lower edge. A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a pattern and guide strip of the capabilities shown herein that can be used rever sibly, with either as the 'uppei' or lower edge. These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the means herein described, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Y -In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in its preferred form, and inwhich similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout several views,

Figure 1 is a broken away, strip embodying the 'invention applied to a section of a terrazzo flooring.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly perspective view, partly edge of the strip showing \a'pattern and guide broken away, of a strip embodying the in- 1 vention detached from a flooring.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the strip shown in Figure 2, embedded in a flooring. Figure 4: is a perspective view. of a strip embodying a modification of the invention,

and v Figure 5 is a perspective view of a strip embodying a further modification of the invention. I

Many and various difliculti-es have arisen in connection with the efforts to use pattern and guide strips in terrazzo fioorings, due

largely to the fact that the strips are made broken into small pieces,

of metal while the material forming the surface layer of the flooring is made of marble and held together by cement, and the screed layer is generally made of sand and cement.

The strip is inserted into the screed layer while the layer is in a semi-plastic condition, and the top or terrazzo layer is applied to the screed layer and against the strip after the screed layer has hardened to some extent, consequently there is a certain amount of shrinkage of said layers away from the strip, causing an uneven contraction of the material forming the screed and finishing layers.

Sometimes the screed coat is laid on a foundationmade of cindc-rs, sand and cement mixed, or broken stone, laid on the floor arches of a building or laid in two courses as layers on a wooden foundation Where plain metal strips were used in the I prior art to divide a flooring into sections,

serious difiiculties resulted,'due to the fact that thestrips divided the flooring into independent sections.

These sections in drying shrink, and fully ninety per cent of the shrinkage takes place within six inches of the outer margins of the independent sections.

That is due to the fact that the upper and edge surfaces dry first, and the outer margins of such a section have the shrink age of the surface, plus the shrinkage of the edges, and whenthe shrinkage at the edge of one section is added to the shrink 'age at the corresponding and opposite edge of an adjacent section,

a crack is produced at the strip representing such double shrink-- age, and the strip becomes loose in said crack. a

One of the objects of the present invention is to prevent such double or compound shrinkage at the edges of said sections by locking both the screed layer and the top or terrazzo layer together, and enable the sections to. dry out evenly throughout their area, and hold the strip securely in place without producin a crack at the juncture of stri and the oor sections. v

As i lustrated in thecaccompanying drawings, 1 represents a thin flat stri of metal, preferably brass, having preferailwly a con tinuous unbroken upper edge 2 and a corresponding unbroken lower edge 3.

The strip is made of flexible material so that it may be bent into circular or other desired form to define sections having various outlines.

In width, the stri is substantially equal to the combined heig t of the screed layer 4 and the finishing layer 5 of a flooring, and

the upper edge of the finishing layer.

To that end the strip is pressed. into the screed layer whil that layer is in a semi.-

plastic condition, with the upper portinn of a longitudinal line spaced from the upji'er edge of the strip a distance equal to the desired thickness of the top or finishing layer.

When the strip is pressed into the screed.

layer the wings 6 rest upon the top surface of the screed layer and hold the strip in position while the top, or finishing layer material is being placed upon the screed layer and against the strip.

The wings 6 serve not only as supports for the strip while the finishing layer is being applied, but they also serve as anchors that prevent any upward displacement of the strip when the flooring is completed and in use.

The wings .6 are preferably provided with upturned ends 7,- o1- other equivalent means, that engagethe material of the layer adjacent thereto and aid in holding the material in close contact with the strip and prevent the edges of the sections adjacent to the strip from drying in advance of the material forming the body of a section and forming a crack between the strip and'such material. When the material forming the finishing layeris being applied to the screed layer such materialis tamped along the sides of the strip, and the wings 6 hold the strip in fixed position while the material itself is being tamped adjacent thereto.

In pressing out the wings 6, openings 8 are made in the strip into which the material formin the flooring enters and aids ,in lockin adjacent sections of a flooring above the upper surface height equal to the' sists of comparatively large openings 9 made .111 the bodyof the strip, preferably between the wings 6.

A series of openings 9 is made in the upper half of the strip and a corresponding series .is made in the lower half, .with the upper of the strip defines the level,

margins of the openings on one half of the strip substantially in line with the lower margin of the openings on the other half of the strip.

.These openings with inclined sides 10, making the outer margin of the openings longer than the inner margln, and the body portion of the Wings 6 are preferably arranged on the line of the shgrter sides 'of the openings 9. v By means of such construction, the strip is made reversible, and. either ed'ge can be used for the upper or lower edge.

9 are preferably provided By means -of 'such "construction moreoirer, the material forming the screed layer enters the lower openings of the strip and forms a locking connection between adjacent sections of the screed coat, and they material forming the finishing or top layer enters the openings formed in the'upper half of the strip when inplace, and forms a locking connection between adjacent sections of the finishing coat.

By such means any unequal strains andtensions are avoided in the screed and l-finishing layers relative to each other, un-

equal drying out of the edge of a layer of one section relative to the other layenof' paratively lar'ge area, and the wings of,

only sufficient area to perform their function, and independent of the large openings, a considerable saving is obtained in the cost of construction. Y The scrap brass, cut out from a strip to formithe openings 9, pays for the entire cost ofthe labor of transforming the original strip into the finished form shown "herein. Y

While for most purposes I prefer to form the wings 6 independently of the openings 9,.

0 such construction may be modified in some instances to advantage by making the wings in conjunction with the large opening formed in the strip as shown in Figure 4, wherein wings 11 are formed at opposite ends of openings 12, thereby combining the opening in the strip formed by cutting the wings 11 and the intermediate portion of the openings 12.

These openings 12, like the openings 9, are preferably formed with their outer.

longitudinal margins longer than their correspondin inner margins, and they are likewise f drmed on both sides of the central longitudinal line of thestrip to lock 5 together adjacent sections of both the screed coat and finishing layers. I

In such construction, however, the wings 11 are preferably formed with their lateral edges diverging from the line'of their junc- -ture'with the body of the strip so that when in place between the screed layer and the finishing layer, they will form a wedge shape lock with said material, and securely hold the adjacent section of the flooring in place and prevent it from drying out and contracting from the side of the strip and forminga crack at the. juncture of strip and section adjacent thereto.

Whenthe device is. in use the wings 6 and 11 act as anchors to prevent any upward displacement of the .strip and the portions of the sti'i p at the lower margins of the openings 9 and 12 aid materially in sodoing.

While, I have shown upturned *ends 7 formed on the wings 6 to' aid in preventin any withdrawal of the flooring mat/aria away from the strip, other means having similar capabilities may be employed in connection with said wings, without departing from the invention.

In, some instances the wings 13 may be provided'with lateral recesses 14 as shown Figure 5. to engagethe material adjacent thestripand aid in preventing the material from shrinking away therefrom.

While for most purposes I prefer to make the strip of metal, and preferably of brass,

Ido not desire to be limited thereto, other material having satisfactory capabilities may be used instead if desired.

What I claim as new and desireto by Letters Patent is:

1. For use as a pattern'and guide in laying flooring and other surfaces, finished in terrazzo or slmilar mater1al,'a flat strip of flex ble material having uninterrupted straight upper and lower edges, a series of longitudinally disposed openings of greater length than width, extending in widthfrom the central longitudinal line of the strip upward, and a seties bf openings ofgreater length th anwidth extending in width from the centrallongitudinal line of the strip downward.

2. For use as a pattern and guide in layingflooring and other surfaces, finished in terrazzo or similar material, aflat strip of flexible material having uninterrupted straight upper and lower edges, a series of longitudinally disposed openings of greater length thanwidt-h extending in width from the central longitudinal line of said strip upward, and a series of longitudinally dise.

posed openings of greater length than width, extending in width from the central longitudinal line of the strip downward, arranged in staggered relation to the openings on the upper half of said strip. j

3. For use as a pattern and guide in laying flooring and other surfaces finished in terrazzo or similar material, a flat strip of flexible material having a-series of longit-udlnally disposed openings 0n the upper half and on the lower. half of said strip respectively, and a series of wings formed in said strip at substantially the central longitudinal line thereof, in line with the inner margins of the upper and lower series of n openings.

4:. For use as a pattern and guide inlaywidth extending in width from the central ing flooring and other surfaces finished in terrazzo or similar material, a flat strip of flexible material having a series of longitudinally disposed openings on the upper half and on the lower half of said strip respectively, with the inner margins of both series of openings in line with each other, and wings forward in said strip at the 0ppo'site' ends of said openings.

5. For use as a pattern and guide in laying flooring and other surfaces finished in terrazzo or silnilar material, a flat strip of flexible material having a plurality of openings of greater length than width, extending in width from the central longitudinal lineof the strip upward and wings adjacent each end of said openings formed on said central longitudinal line, and a plurality'of openings of greater length than width, extending in width from the central longitudinal line of the strip downward, with wings adjacent the ends of said openings formed on said central longitudinal line of said strip.

6. For use as a pattern and guide in laying flooring and other surfaces finished in terrazzo or similar material, a flat strip of flexible material having a plurality of openings of greater length than width, and provi ed with inclined ends, said openings extending in width from the central longitudinal line of the strip upward, and wings adjacentthe ends of said openings formed on saidcentral longitudinal line, and a plurality of openings of greater length than longitudinal line of the strip downward and provided with inclined endsand wings adjacent the ends of said openings extending from the central line of said strip.

assess? 7. For use as a.pattern and guide in laying flooring and other surfaces finished 1n terrazzo or similarmaterial, a flat strip of ing in width from the central longitudinal line of the strip upward, and a plurality of openings of greater length than width, ex-

flexible material having a plurality of open- .ings of greater. length than width, extendtending in width from said longitudinal line downward, and wings an'angedait the ends of said openings extending from said central longitudinal line and provided with means for locking said wings into the material of a wall or flooring.

8. For use as a pattern and guide in laying flooring and other. surfaces tinished'in terrazzo or similar mater1al,-a flat strip of flexible material having a plurality of openings of greater. length than width, extending in width from'the central longitudinal line of the strip upward, and a plurality of openings of greater length than width, ex-

tending in width from said lon itudinal line terrazzo or similar material, a flat strip of flexible material having anuninterrupted straight upper edge, a series of longitudina-lly disposed openingson the upper half and on the lower half of said strip respectively, and a series of wings extending along the central longitudinal line of said strip and provided with ends offset from the body ofs'aid wings.

SEWARD HOMER o'aLKiNs'. 

